Elizabeth Heiter - Stalked

If you’re reading this, I’m already dead...

That’s the note seventeen-year-old Haley Cooke leaves behind when she disappears from inside her high school. FBI profiler Evelyn Baine is called in to figure out who had reason to hurt her. On the surface, the popular cheerleader has no enemies, but as Evelyn digs deeper, she discovers that everyone close to Haley has something to hide. Everyone from estranged parents, to an older boyfriend with questionable connections, to a best friend who envies Haley’s life.

Secrets can be deadly...

One of those secrets may have gotten Haley killed. If she’s still alive, Evelyn knows that the more the investigation ramps up, the more pressure they could be putting on Haley’s kidnapper to make her disappear for good. It’s also possible the teenager isn’t in danger at all, but has skillfully manipulated everyone and staged her own disappearance. Only one thing is certain: uncovering Haley’s fate could be dangerous—even deadly—to Evelyn herself.

Praise for the novels of Elizabeth Heiter

“A terrific, gripping, page-turning debut by a talented new voice in suspense!”

— New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan on Hunted

“This is a really excellent thriller—fast-paced and exciting!”

— New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann on Hunted

“ Hunted is a nonstop, thrilling read that will leave you breathless, and Evelyn Baine is a sharp and gutsy heroine you’ll want to follow for many books to come.”

— New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen

“Want to read a top-rate thriller? Vanished had me turning page after page. Wow. When you talk about our most-promising new thriller writers, put Elizabeth Heiter on the list!”

—R. L. Stine

“Elizabeth Heiter does her research, and it shows in this superb FBI thriller. With a ripped-from-the-headlines plot and excellent characterization, Seized is a true winner. Don’t miss it.”

— New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison

“The riveting and virtually impossible to put down Seized establishes Heiter in the upper tier of thriller writers.”

— The Providence Journal

“ Seized ...is a taut thriller that could be torn from tomorrow’s newspaper headlines.... Heiter’s latest is a thought-provoking thriller by a rising star in contemporary crime fiction.”

— The Lansing State Journal

Stalked

Elizabeth Heiter

www.mirabooks.co.uk

This book is for Paula Eykelhof,

an incredible editor and an even more incredible person.

I am a far better writer for having worked with you.

Dear Reader,

Welcome to the world of The Profiler! If you’ve already read the first three books in the series, thank you for returning. In this book, a teenager disappears, leaving behind a note foretelling her own death, and FBI profiler Evelyn Baine must unravel the girl’s secrets...before one of those secrets leads to her own death.

If this is your first visit to the series, Evelyn’s story began in Hunted , in which she tracked down a deadly serial killer known as the Bakersville Burier and learned just how deadly it can be to get inside the head of a killer. In the sequel, Vanished , Evelyn tackled the case she’d waited most of her life to investigate—the disappearance of her best friend—when the Nursery Rhyme Killer resurfaced after eighteen years of silence. After Vanished , the short story “Avenged” (free through my website) takes Evelyn Baine and her new boyfriend, HRT agent Kyle McKenzie, on an island trip together...but their vacation is interrupted when bodies begin washing ashore. And in the third book of the series, Seized , Evelyn tackles what looks like a routine investigation—until it lands her on the wrong side of a hostage situation and in the middle of an emerging terrorist threat.

Stalked marks new challenges for Evelyn and former HRT agent Kyle McKenzie, who’s now in a new role...with a partner you might remember from Hunted . I hope you enjoy following Evelyn and Kyle as they navigate their newly revealed relationship and two very different cases that may have a deadly connection.

After Stalked , I’ll be back with three more books in my romantic suspense series, The Lawmen! You can keep up with me and all the books, as well as get extras and join my newsletter, on my website at www.elizabethheiter.com. You can also find me on Facebook at Facebook.com/elizabeth.heiter.authorand Twitter as @ElizabethHeiter. I love to hear from readers.

As always, my heartfelt thanks for reading!

Elizabeth Heiter

FBI TERMS AND ACRONYMS

BAU—Behavioral Analysis Unit. The BAU is where FBI “profilers” (the official name is Criminal Investigative Analysts) work. BAU is part of CIRG (Critical Incident Response Group) and is located at Aquia. BAU agents provide behavioral-based support to the FBI, as well as other federal, state, local and international law enforcement agencies, including profiles of unknown subjects (UNSUBs).

CIRG—Critical Incident Response Group. CIRG provides rapid response for crisis situations around the country and integrates tactical, negotiations, behavioral analysis and crisis management resources. BAU (Behavioral Analysis Unit) and HRT (Hostage Rescue Team) are part of CIRG.

ERT—Evidence Response Team. ERT agents are specially trained FBI agents who collect evidence at crime scenes. Being on ERT is a secondary position, so these agents also work regular Special Agent duties.

HRT—Hostage Rescue Team. Under CIRG (the Critical Incident Response Group), HRT is part of the FBI’s tactical response for crises. Unlike SWAT, their members work full-time as HRT agents and respond to incidents involving hostage rescue, barricaded subjects and high-risk arrests. Their motto is Servare Vitas (To Save Lives).

SA—Special Agent. Special Agents investigate violations of federal laws and assist state and local law enforcement. There are more than thirteen thousand Special Agents (as part of more than thirty-five thousand FBI employees).

SSA—Supervisory Special Agent. SSAs run squads. Each field office of the FBI has numerous squads, broken up by type of investigation—white collar, intelligence, civil rights, counterterror, violent crime, etc.

SWAT—Special Weapons and Tactics. All the FBI field offices have SWAT teams, and Special Agents who are SWAT members do so as an ancillary duty—in addition to work on a regular squad. SWAT agents handle high-risk tactical operations. Some police departments also have their own SWAT teams.

UNSUB—Unknown Subject. UNSUBs are targets of investigations where the person who committed the crime is not known by name.

WFO—Washington Field Office. The FBI has fifty-six field offices across the US and Puerto Rico, as well as approximately 380 Resident Agencies (smaller offices). The WFO and its connected Resident Agency have jurisdiction in Washington, DC, and northern Virginia.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Praise

Title Page

Dedication

Dear Reader

FBI Terms and Acronyms

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12